While delegates continued their work in a closed session in Pietermaritzburg, eager party supporters gathered at Durban’s Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, where several national ANC leaders were expected to speak.

These included ANC president Jacob Zuma, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande and the Young Communist League’s Buti Manamela.

By 11am hundreds wearing Zuma T-shirts had gathered at the stadium in anticipation of the party president’s arrival.—Sapa